EDISON - Five people, including two children, were injured Wednesday in a rush hour collision between a tractor trailer and minivan on Route 1 that caused a chain-reaction crash involving six other vehicles.

The most seriously hurt was a woman who suffered "potentially life threatening injuries," according to Police Lt. Robert Dudash.

Police said the accident was reported at 5:20 p.m. on Route 1 south near Prince Street. Police were forced to shutdown all six lanes of the highway in both directions and divert traffic through nearby Metuchen.

The five injured people were all taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Edison firefighters cut apart five badly damaged cars to free drivers and passengers who were trapped, according to Fire Capt. Andy Toth.

“Many of the people removed from those vehicles sustained cuts, scrapes and complained of leg, back and shoulder pain,” Toth said.

The first meeting of the new season of the Franklin Woman's Club will be on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Franklin High School, 500 Elizabeth Ave., Somerset section of Franklin Township. ~Courtesy of the Franklin Woman's Club

Nancy Fela Parenti (left) and son Matthew of Fanwood prepare to serve ice cream to patients and their loved ones at Peggy’s House in Scotch Plains, one of the Center for Hope’s hospice and palliative care residences. ~Courtesy of Center for Hope Hospice

Dave Blinder’s photography will be exhibited at the Art Space at Warren in the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey’s (SCLSNJ) Warren Township Library branch, 42 Mountain Blvd. in Warren Township, through Sunday, Sept. 30. ~Courtesy of Somerset County Library System of New Jersey

A Hole Lot of Fun will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6, at Skyline Miniature Golf and Pavilion, Woodbridge Community Center, 600 Main St., Woodbridge. ~Courtesy of Department of Community Services

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Middlesex County HAZMAT, Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office investigators and state Department of Transportation emergency crews responded to the accident scene to assist Edison police and firefighters.